Victoria Azarenka’s Physio Says Injury Is Very Slight

Written by: Staff on 15th March 2013

Victoria Azarenka’s Physio Says Injury Is Very Slight

epa03621125 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus hits a return against Urszula Radwanska of Poland in the second set during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 12 March 2013. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Since joining Victoria Azarenka’s team as touring physiotherapist, Per Bastholt has been one of the busiest men on the WTA scene. And the Swede who not too long ago was a staff member on the ATP World Tour maintains the Australian Open champion has suffered no tendon damage after being forced to withdraw for her title defense at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells because of pain in her right ankle.

Bastholt’s early diagnosis was that two or three days of rest may be enough to settle the injury down and that a decision will be taken after that whether Azarenka will compete in the Sony Open which starts in Miami late next week.

Deciding to err on caution, just as she did pulling out of the Brisbane International early this year and more recently the Dubai Duty Free Championships, Azarenka opted against playing her quarterfinal against Caroline Wozniacki and so gave her fellow former no.1 a free ride into the last four.

The pain in Azarenka’s ankle was such she was in tears during her fourth round victory over Urszula Radwanska on Tuesday. When she saw a doctor that evening, he wondered if she might have to forfeit two weeks of the season to rest what are in effect two injuries, one to the ‘tendon sheath’ and the other an impingement in the ankle joint. The two are unrelated but both can be exacerbated by the amount of tennis played these days on hard courts.

“After my warm-up today, I knew I could not possibly play. I tested it out as much as possible,” maintained top seeded Azarenka. “I tried absolutely everything I could to do, but I have been advised by the doctor, by my own team, that it’s just a very, very high risk already. It’s already really painful, but it’s very high risk to make it much worse. ”

Azarenka, like most notably Rafael Nadal on the men’s side, is rapidly coming to the conclusion too much hard court play is not conducive to good health.

“I don’t know about the percentage ratio of playing on clay or grass, but maybe there could be some adjustments to some hard courts,” said the Belorussian. “Everywhere you go the hardcourts are different. There is Rebound Ace what we have in Australia, which is a little bit different than what we have here and a little bit different than in Miami.

“I also think that the game becomes so much more physical that obviously playing so many matches on hardcourt, and with a schedule it makes it tougher then. So I’m sure over next few months, next year, there will be some maybe adjustments, maybe just some suggestions to see that. But me, as a player I’m open up to see what we can do.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Miami tennis news, Per Bastholt, Sony Open, Sports, tennis injury, Tennis News, Victoia Azarenka, WTA tennis news